Rocket Sidecar Bike - The Build
- Thread starter loopybike
- Start date
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OP
OP
loopybike
Veteran
[Mar 14, 2017]
Working on one of the side panels:
I'm still a little unsure exactly how the front is going to look. I do have several ideas......I also have some copper sheet and copper solid rivets.......
What I do know is that it will be shiny! The panels in the picture haven't been polished yet, the shine comes from the squeezing in the english wheel.
Working on one of the side panels:
I'm still a little unsure exactly how the front is going to look. I do have several ideas......I also have some copper sheet and copper solid rivets.......
What I do know is that it will be shiny! The panels in the picture haven't been polished yet, the shine comes from the squeezing in the english wheel.
OP
OP
loopybike
Veteran
[Mar 18, 2017]
Been in the workshop today working on this. I've almost finished roughing out all the panels now. I was a bit worried that it was too big so I brought the bike into the shop. This is the first time they have been side by side and I like it!
All the panels are larger than they need to be so that I can trim them once I'm happy.
Been in the workshop today working on this. I've almost finished roughing out all the panels now. I was a bit worried that it was too big so I brought the bike into the shop. This is the first time they have been side by side and I like it!
All the panels are larger than they need to be so that I can trim them once I'm happy.
OP
OP
loopybike
Veteran
OP
OP
loopybike
Veteran
[Apr 8, 2017]
Thank you for all your kind words, they help me keep motivated.
I've started to put the pieces together this morning.
These two form the lower "port side" strip:
Tacked:
Welded:
Filed and planished:
Offered up to the buck.
I'm getting quite excited over how it's starting to look!
Thank you for all your kind words, they help me keep motivated.
I've started to put the pieces together this morning.
These two form the lower "port side" strip:
Tacked:
Welded:
Filed and planished:
Offered up to the buck.
I'm getting quite excited over how it's starting to look!
OP
OP
loopybike
Veteran
[Apr 27, 2017]
It's been a while since I last posted, but I have been working on this I promise!!
The welding is mostly done, as is the planishing ( thank goodness !) I haven't posted pictures as it's all a bit tedious really lol
Anyway, I'm now on to the assembly.
The bead roller came in handy to make a joggle in the base edge.
This allows the strip above it to sit flush:
Then this edge will be riveted with solid dome head rivets.
I still have a few decisions to make: copper or aluminium rivets? what to do at the front? What size wheel to use? How to mount it to the bike? ( although I do have a pretty good idea how I'm going to do that)
Also this will be fitted to a subframe so I can mount it on to a separate chassis with 4 wheels...........
Oh, and lots of polishing....... lots
It's been a while since I last posted, but I have been working on this I promise!!
The welding is mostly done, as is the planishing ( thank goodness !) I haven't posted pictures as it's all a bit tedious really lol
Anyway, I'm now on to the assembly.
The bead roller came in handy to make a joggle in the base edge.
This allows the strip above it to sit flush:
Then this edge will be riveted with solid dome head rivets.
I still have a few decisions to make: copper or aluminium rivets? what to do at the front? What size wheel to use? How to mount it to the bike? ( although I do have a pretty good idea how I'm going to do that)
Also this will be fitted to a subframe so I can mount it on to a separate chassis with 4 wheels...........
Oh, and lots of polishing....... lots
OP
OP
loopybike
Veteran
[Apr 28, 2017]
I'm quite happy to have input in this! The final look isn't set yet so good ideas can always be added
I'm a believer in the old saying of sticking to no more than 3 colours on a design. So I have ordered some aluminium dome head rivets for this. The bike has a dark grey frame ( I'll post a pic as soon as my photo-hosting site starts behaving itself!) , the polished aluminium body and the upholstery colour make up my 3 colours. I think that any more would make this messy and a bit visually fussy. I want it to really POP !
The bikes wheels are 27" so I'm going with a 24" wheel for the sidecar. It's going to have a half circle enclosed mudgaurd so little fingers can't get stuck in the spokes ( make me shudder even thinking about that!)
I'm quite happy to have input in this! The final look isn't set yet so good ideas can always be added I'm a believer in the old saying of sticking to no more than 3 colours on a design. So I have ordered some aluminium dome head rivets for this. The bike has a dark grey frame ( I'll post a pic as soon as my photo-hosting site starts behaving itself!) , the polished aluminium body and the upholstery colour make up my 3 colours. I think that any more would make this messy and a bit visually fussy. I want it to really POP !
The bikes wheels are 27" so I'm going with a 24" wheel for the sidecar. It's going to have a half circle enclosed mudgaurd so little fingers can't get stuck in the spokes ( make me shudder even thinking about that!)
OP
OP
loopybike
Veteran
[Apr 28, 2017]
Photobucket is back up again
The spiky things are pins that hold the panels together. So far I have fixed in place the base and two strips. The top front and rear are yet to be trimmed and fixed into place.
oh and here's a shot showing an old tatty (Ferrari) wheel offered up!
Just because.....
Photobucket is back up again
The spiky things are pins that hold the panels together. So far I have fixed in place the base and two strips. The top front and rear are yet to be trimmed and fixed into place.
oh and here's a shot showing an old tatty (Ferrari) wheel offered up!
Just because.....
OP
OP
loopybike
Veteran
[May 11, 2017]
Starving for updates eh? Lol
Well it's not all good news. I wasn't happy with the fit of one of the panels. It seemed that I'd welded the front and back parts at slightly the wrong angle which messed it up. The only solution was to cut it in half again and re-weld it
Typically it was the panel that I had polished as a sample. O well. It's got to be right!
I have now finished re-doing this panel and I am very pleased with the result. It fits much better.
So now I am working on the top panels.
The tube has arrived for the frame, so there is there is no stopping me now!.........only there is.........i keep getting distracted by my next car build.........must stay focused on the sidecar........
Starving for updates eh? Lol
Well it's not all good news. I wasn't happy with the fit of one of the panels. It seemed that I'd welded the front and back parts at slightly the wrong angle which messed it up. The only solution was to cut it in half again and re-weld it
Typically it was the panel that I had polished as a sample. O well. It's got to be right!
I have now finished re-doing this panel and I am very pleased with the result. It fits much better.
So now I am working on the top panels.
The tube has arrived for the frame, so there is there is no stopping me now!.........only there is.........i keep getting distracted by my next car build.........must stay focused on the sidecar........
OP
OP
loopybike
Veteran
[May 19, 2017]
Been working on the front nose cone.
First a bit of mathematics........"peace man!"
The marks you can see are where shape was put in it with the English Wheel. This ensures that the shape will flow nicely into the rest of the sidecar. well thats the theory anyway! I fully expected to have to make this part several times before I got it right.........
sometimes luck is on my side!
Been working on the front nose cone.
First a bit of mathematics........"peace man!"
The marks you can see are where shape was put in it with the English Wheel. This ensures that the shape will flow nicely into the rest of the sidecar. well thats the theory anyway! I fully expected to have to make this part several times before I got it right.........
sometimes luck is on my side!
OP
OP
loopybike
Veteran
[May 22, 2017]
Thank you I'm in Telford, Shropshire.
It's all about the polishing now.
I've decided not to go for a mirror finish because, well, I just don't have the patience for that level of polishing! Lol
I'm going for a "bright satin" effect. Still shiny but not "see your face in it" shiny. It will help mask any imperfections in the body as well.
In other news, the rear tail light has arrived. You Americans may recognise it.......... I'll post a picture when I get home.
The wheel will be arriving next week hopefully. (It's not a Ferrari wheel )
Thank you
I'm in Telford, Shropshire.It's all about the polishing now.
I've decided not to go for a mirror finish because, well, I just don't have the patience for that level of polishing! Lol
I'm going for a "bright satin" effect. Still shiny but not "see your face in it" shiny. It will help mask any imperfections in the body as well.
In other news, the rear tail light has arrived. You Americans may recognise it.......... I'll post a picture when I get home.
The wheel will be arriving next week hopefully. (It's not a Ferrari wheel )
OP
OP
loopybike
Veteran
[May 23, 2017]
I've started to put this thing together. I haven't finished the top panels yet, but the lower ones are done.
... and here is that light I mentioned:
It is just resting there in the picture. The final position will be set in more.
I really like it, can't stop smiling when I look at it! lol
I've started to put this thing together. I haven't finished the top panels yet, but the lower ones are done.
... and here is that light I mentioned:
It is just resting there in the picture. The final position will be set in more.
I really like it, can't stop smiling when I look at it! lol
